7 dead, 11 injured in Kathua cloudburst, rain-induced landslide incidents

Jammu, Aug 17: Close on the heels of the Kishtwar disaster, tragedy on Sunday struck Kathua district, where seven persons died and 11 others were injured in two separate incidents of flash-floods triggered by cloudburst and rain-induced landslides in Jodh Khad and Bagra village of Janglot.

Besides taking precious lives, heavy overnight rains which pounded Kathua and several other areas in Jammu division, caused extensive damage to critical infrastructure and snapped connectivity to many areas in the border district, including the villages severely affected by flash floods and landslides.

Several Kachcha houses in landslide-affected areas were also damaged.

“Kathua witnessed heavy overnight rains triggering flash floods and landslides, wherein seven people lost their lives in the Jodh-Janglot area. All the injured have been evacuated,” Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar stated. Heavy rains led to flooding of Ujh and Sahar Khad and the subsequent submerging of low-lying areas in the district.

Among the seven deceased of four families are five children.

As per the official account, in Jodh Ghati, four minors were among the dead in flash floods, and they included Surmu Din, 30, son of Bashir Ahmed, his two minor sons – Fanu, 6 and Shedu, 5; Tahu, 2, son of Habib Deen, and Zulfan, 15, daughter of Bashir Ahmed.

In the second similar incident, a mother-daughter lost their lives in Janglot, and they were identified as Renu Devi, 39, wife of Parveen Singh, and their minor daughter Radhika, 9. Shubham Singh, son of Parveen Singh, was also injured in this incident. The injured also included Gogli Begum, 26, wife of Surmu Din; their daughter Nageena, 3 months old; Karoon Begum, 26, wife of Habib Din, and their three daughters, Rafia Begum, 4, Aisha Begum, 6, and Parveen Akhter, 8.

“Basically, these were rain-induced landslide incidents where we suffered loss of seven lives at two places. In a village (Jodh-Juthana) in the Ghati area, five people died, and in another village, we lost two more lives. The last rites of all seven deceased have been performed. A total of 11 people sustained injuries at both places. Out of them, six have been evacuated to Military Hospital, Pathankot, while five are under treatment at GMC Kathua,” Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Rajesh Sharma, told Greater Kashmir.

With regard to a query about the condition of the injured, Sharma said that all the injured were stable, except one.

“All the injured are stable except one woman, who is critical and is presently in the MH Pathankot ICU. One girl has to undertake surgery, but her condition is also stable,” he said.

With regard to damage to road infrastructure, DC Kathua said that the situation was pretty bad.

“We have just come from the affected villages, so I’m not in a position right now to give you the exact extent of damage and number of roads caved in or damaged. That assessment is being made. Yet at present, many areas are cut off after being ravaged by flash floods triggered by heavy rains. Several roads have caved in or washed away, particularly in hilly areas, including roads leading to Dayalachak, Billawar, and Nagri. A few bridges too have suffered damages. Restoration work has also been started immediately and is presently going on, in full swing,” he said.

DC Kathua asserted that the situation was presently normal and under control. “We are ensuring the supply of essential supplies, though the connectivity issue persists. Efforts are being made to ensure supplies by air. Anyway, we will keep fingers crossed as there is a forecast for heavy rains, flash floods and cloudbursts. I have ordered the closure of schools in the district tomorrow,” he said.

Following the incidents, several heartrending videos circulated online showing submerged, damaged houses and people struggling to come out of the deluge.

Among the critical infrastructure that suffered damage or inundation followed by flash floods included the railway bridges (43) between Kathua-Budhi track; Janglot Police Station, ITI Colony, industrial area, Kendriya Vidyalaya, and parts of National Highway. Dhanni-Bhagata bridge too washed away in the gushing water.

Chandarh, Bhed Blore, Bagrah, Dilwan, Hatli, and Lakhanpur too witnessed flooding.

The tragedy struck within four days after a similar yet gigantic-scale disaster in Kishtwar, which is still struggling to come out of shock and despair, and is witnessing unrelenting search and relief-rescue operations.

Immediately after the tragedy, DIG Jammu Samba Kathua Range Shiv Kumar, along with SSP Kathua SP OPS Mukund, SDPO Dheeraj Katoch, SHO Rajbagh Ajay Chib, and DySP Ops Ashwani Kumar reached the spot of cloudburst-hit areas in Jakhole, Joda Juthana villages.

They rescued six injured persons and shifted them to the Army Hospital in Pathankot. DC Kathua Rajesh Kumar, along with ACR and other officers, visited the spot also. DGP J&K Nalin Prabhat spoke to DIG-JKS who was on spot and monitored the rescue operations.

IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti coordinated with Army GOC Mamoon Cantonment and the injured were airlifted. CRPF and Army soldiers put in all their best efforts for rescue and relief.

“The Indian Army swiftly mounted large-scale rescue and relief operations to support the distressed population. The sudden deluge triggered massive landslides and flooding in causing tragic loss of lives and extensive damage to infrastructure in Kathua,” PRO Defence Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said.

Reacting with urgency, Army relief columns with an engineer detachment were immediately pressed into action to the worst-affected regions of Jodh Khad and Bagra village.

“In coordination with civil Administration, J&K Police and teams of SDRF, Troops of Rising Star Corps, Indian Army evacuated stranded families to safety, provided food, water, and temporary shelter, while Army medical teams, supported by civil medical responders, delivered critical care to the injured,” he said.

Engineer detachments equipped with heavy machinery were working relentlessly to clear blocked routes and restore vital connectivity, Lt Col Bartwal said.

He said that augmenting the ground efforts, Indian army helicopters were deployed for aerial evacuation and relief delivery.

“Seriously injured persons were airlifted from Juthana and Bagra villages to Military Hospital Pathankot. Urgently needed rations, medicines, and other essential supplies are being delivered to marooned families in remote areas. Even as rescue efforts continue across Kathua, additional Army resources remain on standby to tackle emerging challenges,” he said.

Union Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh said that helicopter services were arranged for shifting the injured to appropriate hospitals.

“Six injured have been airlifted for hospitalisation in Mamoon, Pathankot, which was found to be a relatively nearer destination. DIG Shiv Kumar Sharma, along with his team, is camping at the spot and is in constant touch with me. Further assistance will be arranged as and when required,” he said, adding that the situation was being regularly monitored.